Baixa, Lisbon

Baixa is a district of broad squares, 18th century architecture, patterned pavements, and popular cafs. It is the heart of the city and is the main shopping and banking area that stretches from the riverfront to the main avenue (Avenida da Liberdade). The streets are named according to the shopkeepers and craftsmen who historically traded in this area. It was completely rebuilt after the Great Earthquake of 1755 with streets flanked by uniform, neoclassical buildings. This was Europe’s first great example of neoclassical design and urban planning, and one of the finest European architectural achievements of the age. Exhibitions in this district will take place at the Rossio, Plaça de Estação do Rossio, Praça do Municipio, Plaça Duque de Cadaval, Largo de São Domingos, Praça do Figueira, and R. de Augusta, Arch do Augusta, and Praça de Restauradores.

Bairro Alto, Lisbon

Bairro Alto is a picturesque working class quarter dating from the 16th century that has traditionally been the city’s bohemian haunt of artists and writers. Its grid of streets is quiet during the day, but is transformed at night into the city’s vibrant nightlife quarter. Visitors will find art works at the Jardin de São Pedro, Praça Luis de Camoes, and Marodouro de São Pedro in this district. Nearby Largo do Chiado andTeatro Nacional de Sao Carlos will also host an exhibition.

Parque das Nações, Lisbon

The Pavilion of Portugal, situated in Parque das Nações in Lisbon,Portugal was the building which sheltered the Portuguese national representation in that event, being erected until today.The Portugal Pavilion is a striking building designed by Portugal’s Pritzker Award-winning architect Alvaro Siza Vieira.  Its remarkable sagging concrete roof weighing 1,400 tonnes and measuring 50 by 67 meters (167 by 223 ft) is an instant attention-grabber, undulating like a sailcloth, keeping the maritime theme of most of the district’s architecture. The building is currently empty but there have been plans to turn it into an architecture museum.

TEMPO -Teatro Municipal Portimão, Algarve

O palácio oitocentista Sárrea Gárfias é um dos espaços nobres da cidade. Tem uma localização privilegiada, no centro de Portimão, e o arquitecto Troufa Real foi o responsável por um projecto inovador onde o aspecto cénico, e também o acústico, não foi esquecido. Destaque também para o trabalho do mestre Daciano da Costa no que diz respeito ao mobiliário e design. O TEMPO é também o claro exemplo do que uma recuperação bem feita pode fazer pelo desenvolvimento de uma zona da cidade. Este é um espaço pensado para o contacto entre as pessoas. Áreas como o café-concerto ou o foyer não são descuradas, possibilitando uma atmosfera propícia para espectáculos de fado, jazz, tertúlias e, por exemplo, lançamentos de livros. Na sua programação, o TEMPO conjuga o melhor do que se faz em Portimão, mas também o melhor do que é feito em todo o país em termos de produção cultural multidisciplinar.

Centro de Congressos Arade – Portimão

The Arade Congress Center, designed by architect Miguel Arruda, is a multipurpose infrastructure located in the old fish cannery in the village of Parchal (Lagoa). As Algarve’s most recent event venue, it is also the only one exclusively with current technology to hold various exhibitions, shows and concerts.

Grândola, Alentejo

Grândola is a charming country town set amidst plains of crops and vast gatherings of cork trees, for which the area is famous. Nearby nature reserves offer various days out in the open air and the sand dunes at Tróia are of particular beauty.

Public Library Grândola

Launch in 1989, the Library of Grândola has established itself as one of the most important centers of cultural diffusion of the region, providing numerous services to the population – visual arts, exhibitions, book fairs, workshops, meeting with writers, debates, concerts and other collaborative projects.

Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve

Vila Real de Santo António was erected at great speed, in only two years time (construction took place between 1774 and 1776). The Marquis of Pombal was responsible for its planning. He designed the town in a Pombaline orthogonal grid, much like the one he did to rebuild Lisbon’s downtown, which had also been destroyed by the earthquake. In a pioneering technique, entire buildings were prefabricated in pieces outside the city, and then transported to their final destination to be assembled. This procedure permitted a fast and methodical construction of the town. It soon became the seat of the municipality, stripping the once important town of Cacela from this status. Cacela had been steadily declining due to the effects of the earthquake and also English pirate attacks.

Vila Real de Santo António started to thrive by the end of the 19th century thanks to the growth of the fish industry and concentration of fish-processing plants in the city. Tuna and sardine were particularly important to the city’s economy. In 1886, it became the first city in the Algarve to have gas lighting installed.

The fish industry came to a decline in the 1960s and tourism quickly took over as the principal income generator. Its extensive stretch of sandy beaches attracts both national and international tourists, especially during the warm season. Monte Gordo is particularly visitor-oriented, counting with many hotels, bars and a casino.

Centro Cultural António Aleixo – Vila Real de Santo António

Located in city’s historic district, the building began to house the military barracks, where the troops stationed focused the new border town. With the concentration of troops stationed in eastern Algarve, the building was converted into a market of vegetables. In the 80s, the idea was born to transform it into a place for cultural events. The Centro Cultural Antonio Aleixo opened to the public in 1998, referencing the popular poet Antonio Aleixo, born in Vila Real de Santo Antonio in 1899. The space is now inseparable from the city’s cultural life.